Orbital cable holder systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for cable routing, such as within vehicles or structures. In certain examples, a cable holder is disclosed that includes one or more loop members with an interior groove and a rotatable cable holding member disposed within the interior groove. The rotatable cable holding member can be configured to rotate to decrease bends and/or stresses within the cable that the rotatable cable holding member is holding. Additionally, the rotatable cable holding member can be configured so that the cable held is perpendicular to the support for the cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft comprising:
 a cable disposed within the aircraft; and 
 a cable holder configured to secure the cable to the aircraft, the cable holder comprising:
 a loop member comprising an interior groove and configured to couple to the aircraft, and 
 a rotatable cable holding member disposed within the interior groove, configured to rotate within the interior groove, and comprising an opening configured to receive the cable and allow the cable to pass through. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is configured to hold the cable so that a vector perpendicular to an inner surface of the opening is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the cable. 
     
     
       3. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cable holding member comprises a plurality of rotatable cable holding member pieces coupled together to form the rotatable cable holding member. 
     
     
       4. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the loop member comprises a first arm and a second arm hingedly coupled together, wherein the first arm and the second arm are hingedly coupled together on a first side and clamped together on a second side, and wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to be clamped to hold the rotatable cable holding member in a set position. 
     
     
       5. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cable disposed adjacent to one side of the cable holder is disposed higher than another portion of the cable disposed adjacent to an opposite side of the cable holder. 
     
     
       6. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the interior groove is substantially spherical and conforms in shape to an outer surface of the rotatable cable holding member. 
     
     
       7. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the cable holder further comprises a deformable layer disposed between the interior groove and the rotatable cable holding member. 
     
     
       8. The aircraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cable holders, each cable holder coupled to the aircraft, wherein each loop member of the plurality of cable holders comprises a first arm and a second arm hingedly coupled together on a first side and clamped together on a second side, wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to be clamped to hold the corresponding rotatable cable holding member of the cable holder in a set position, wherein the first arm and the second arm of each of the plurality of cable holders are configured to be clamped together, and wherein each of the first arm and the second arm are separated by a minimum interference distance. 
     
     
       9. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cable holding member comprises a plurality of openings, each opening configured to receive and allow one cable to pass through. 
     
     
       10. The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is configured to substantially conform to an outer circumference of a cross section of the cable. 
     
     
       11. The aircraft of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fuselage; and 
 a wing coupled to the fuselage, wherein the cable is disposed within the fuselage and/or the wing. 
 
     
     
       12. A cable holder configured to secure a cable to a structure, the cable holder comprising:
 a loop member comprising an interior groove and configured to couple to the structure; and 
 a rotatable cable holding member disposed within the interior groove, configured to rotate within the interior groove, and comprising a plurality of rotatable cable holding member pieces and an opening configured to receive a cable and allow the cable to pass through. 
 
     
     
       13. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is configured to hold the cable so that a vector perpendicular to an inner surface of the opening is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the cable. 
     
     
       14. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the loop member comprises a first arm and a second arm coupled together to hold the rotatable cable holding member in a set position. 
     
     
       15. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the interior groove is substantially spherical and conforms in shape to an outer surface of the rotatable cable holding member. 
     
     
       16. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the cable holder further comprises a deformable layer disposed between the interior groove and the rotatable cable holding member. 
     
     
       17. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the rotatable cable holding member comprises a plurality of openings, each opening configured to receive and allow one cable to pass through. 
     
     
       18. The cable holder of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is configured to substantially conform to an outer circumference of a cross section of the cable. 
     
     
       19. A method for securing a cable to a structure, the method comprising:
 assembling a rotatable cable holding member of a cable holder around a cable by disposing the cable within an opening of the rotatable cable holding member; 
 orienting the rotatable cable holding member by rotating the rotatable cable holding member relative to a loop member of the cable holder, wherein the loop member comprises an interior groove and the rotatable cable member is disposed within the interior groove; and 
 coupling the loop member to a structure. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 clamping the loop member after orienting the rotatable cable holding member.